Homeless Shelter Debate Divides The Upper East Side

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Since January, proposals for two homeless shelters on the Upper East Side have sparked considerable opposition, petitions, packed community meetings and even a lawsuit.

But amid the backlash, a growing group of residents is organizing in support of the shelters, arguing that the neighborhood should play a role in reducing homelessness in the city. According to the Coalition for the Homeless, 98,671 people slept each night in NYC shelters in March 2026.

"I believe that as a right of birth, people deserve a roof over their head," Erica Bersin, an Upper East Sider and volunteer with the nonprofit Open Hearts Initiative, told Patch. "I don't think that these should be controversial issues."

But they are. The divide has resurfaced this week after a petition opposing a proposed homeless shelter at East 89th Street and Third Avenue gained more than 3,000 signatures.

Petition organizers argue that while they're not opposed to shelter in general, the location, at 1587 Third Ave., is unsuitable due to its density and nearby schools. The petition is also criticizing the city for what they call a lack of transparency.

"We support solutions to homelessness. We support services for those in need. But we also believe a basic principle must be upheld: Where you place a facility matters. New York City cannot continue to make decisions of this magnitude without transparency, context, and community input," the petition says.

The Department of Homeless Services confirmed to Patch that it is considering a shelter proposal at the intersection. Once the department approves of a plan, the details will be released and a public hearing will be scheduled.

The petition comes as a separate shelter project on East 61st Street and First Avenue is moving forward. That shelter, approved by the city, will house up to 200 mostly employed women and is classified as a general population shelter.

In March, opponents sued to block the First Avenue project, arguing that the shelter would negatively impact the area and that city officials failed to provide adequate transparency before it was announced. But a judge ultimately denied those challenges, clearing the way for the shelter to open.

Despite the petitions and lawsuit, supporters say the pushback to shelters does not represent the entire neighborhood.

"The shelter is facing blowback from an incredibly loud and small group of people," Chris Sosa, a spokesperson for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club, told Patch.

The club passed a resolution supporting the shelter by overwhelming voice vote, Sosa told Patch. As part of the resolution, the club will urge elected officials, community organizations and residents to help ensure the shelter opens and operates successfully.

"The reason that Four Freedoms Democratic Club became involved in this issue," Sosa said, "is that inclusion is part of the mandate, and we believe that those experiencing homelessness are owed shelter as a human right."

Kelly Haselschwerdt, a longtime Upper East Side resident who volunteers with Open Hearts Initiative, told Patch she's looking forward to supporting the shelters as a volunteer once they open.

Open Hearts Initiative is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that advocates for homeless services and organizes events and donation drives for shelters. It started in 2020 on the Upper West Side and has since expanded into chapters across the city.

"I’m at a place in my life where I can afford my place, but I know a lot of others are not," Haselschwerdt told Patch. "So I want to be able to help others who are not able to at this moment."

In addition to moral reasoning, supporters say shelters are a solution, not a problem, for the neighborhood.

"People often complain about people living on the streets, but then when a solution is provided, they don't want that either," Bersin said.

Charles Warren, a longtime Community Board 8 member who authored the board’s resolution supporting the shelter proposal, told Patch that protesting new homeless shelters is not new to the neighborhood.

"I remember when we had a big fight in 1989 for a drop-in center," Warren said. "The neighborhood was up in arms."

But, he said, the shelter ultimately operated for years without significant issues.

Warren, who has lived on the Upper East Side for 46 years, said successful shelters depend on strong management, security and oversight. The planned women’s shelter on First Avenue, he noted, is expected to include a community advisory board and extensive monitoring.

"Historically, it's shown it can be done in ways that don't really result in negative impacts on the community," Warren told Patch. "Homeless people are a fact of city life, and I think it's incumbent on the city to treat them as well as possible."

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.

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